Kathy Twist

Traditional. Like a Norman Rockwell.

Usually, I tend to be somewhat unconventional. BUT...this Turkey Day I am actually going traditional. That's what we call it in our neck of the woods, anyway.

I'll be roasting a 22 pound bird in a brown paper bag. Don't chide. The ol' bird will get nice and browned AND...even the white meat will be moist. Tom T will get to enjoy an Italian Extra Virgin rubdown with a full Scarborough Fair (i.e. parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) of flavor...yummy!

But even before big bird hits the oven, my dozen red garnet "yams" will be doing a prick-'n-tick cook off (prick the skins with a fork and tick-off the minutes till done), then set aside to cool before their fabulous makeover later in the day.

Mr. T will be dressed with the convenience of pork (yes, I said pork) Stove Top. Okay, okay. Nothing truly traditional (from my era anyway) about Stove Top Dressing, BUT...Lord knows I've tried a lot of scratch programs: 2-day dried bread, fresh bread crumbs, corn bread, tortilla, etc. Stove Top wins -- unmodified.

My  beautiful fresh gree-ee-een beans will have an early garlic saute and jump into a sultry veggie better-than-boullion bath, before joining their cream-of-mushroom-soaked craisin friends in the casserole dish. Tucked in with French's Fried Onions and prettied by slivered almonds, it's enough to appease any palate.

Hand-mashed red potatoes...in their skins...after boiling their half naked quarters in fresh chopped (not minced) garlic water touched by the Extra Virgin. Aha!..now I get to be naughty. Real butter (unsalted) and real milk (2%) added for creaminess.

Turkey giblet gravy -- of course! Jellied cranberry sauce. (Actually tried making it fresh one year.) And, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls -- everyone knows how addicting those are, right??

And what to drink? Wine. Pinot Noir. Willamette Valley or one of the Napa vineyards. Probably a Riesling, too...for my mother. All compliments of my brother.

Wondering whatever happened to the garnets?  Those precious jewels got skinned, sliced and smooshed into a good-sized glass baking dish, enhanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, black pepper, brown sugar and unsalted butter. Not to forget those toasty melty marshmallows seeping into all the crevices as they make their way to the table. Oh my!

When all is said and done -- dessert. Warm lattice apple pie topped with vanilla bean ice cream, paired up with a slice of award-winning pumpkin pie, crowned with vanilla-pecan real whipped cream. 

Ahhh...traditional sounds sooo good right now. But there's one part I haven't dared to mention yet... 

The prelude.

Dare I tell of our delectable fresh-squeezed margarita mix?  Blood or navel oranges and key limes awaiting the perfect ratio of silver tequilla and contreau (this time, the cadillac -- Grand Marnier).

And dare I admit to indulging in all the afternoon appetizers?   

• slightly spicy Italian dry salami with a tidbit of applewood smoked cheddar atop a Monet vegetable round; 
• the intense flavor of asiago resting on a Zesty Salsa pita crisp; 
• cream cheese and peanut butter filled celery sticks;  
• an array of marinated Greek and Italian olives; 
• and a finishing touch of unsalted roasted walnuts and pecans. 

Yes, it appears that even I can handle traditional. Or, as my mother would say: 

Traditional, with a Kathy twist. :~)

P.S. I will probably be adding pictures in a couple of days.
P.P.S. No pictures...lesson learned: I simply can't be drinking like I'm in my 20's or 30's, when I'm actually in my 60's, and expect to have wonderful food photos.

Everything Seems to Happen at Once

Have you ever noticed how there are times in life where everything seems to happen at once? 

While fighting a sinus infection, a tooth filling falls out, the sewer mainline pipe backs up into the basement shower, and the thawed swordfish is waiting to become that evening's dinner. Which do I ignore and which one gets attention first?

That was the most recent episode. I opted for calling the Drain Doctors first. Everything else got scheduled, including the swordfish.

There was also a mid-summer mini-series...

I am actually managing to prepare a great dinner after having a rather rough night and fighting to stay awake all day, when a favorite neighbor decides to ring the bell, all 3 dogs become obsessed with barking, and my invalid live-in mother suddenly has increased shortness of breath. 

What did I do? I quickly headed to the ER, leaving three dogs, my neighbor AND my dinner ALL hanging. No other good choice -- right?

But, I ask: Is this normal?  Does this sort of thing -- I mean the timing of it all -- happen to anyone else? Or, is it something I've simply brought upon myself? 

PLEASE tell me: It is indeed -- normal.  

Right?!

Less I Too Become A Ruminant

With all the diverse political opinions thrown back and forth today for grazing, and all the multivarious social media chewing the cud, I concluded it wise to again review my purpose and goals for writing, less I too become a ruminant. 

As I thought more deeply about the direction I want to take, I recalled a post I had written nearly 2 years ago. I believe it good to bring it forward and recommit.


Of All The Things  (January 18, 2011)
 

The other day I received an email with the following quote:

Of all the things I've learned in life, I know that change is the strongest truth.

                                                    ~Janice Van Dyck

Briefly I considered the words, then immediately I wanted to change them. I thought: Change is perhaps the one constant in life, but it is not the strongest truth.

Carefully, I reread it and began to acknowledge that she was not talking about me. She was speaking of all the things she herself has learned in life.

But my thoughts grew louder within me: There is a simple principle - a law - the strongest most powerful law in the entire universe. It's the Law of Believing...all believing equals receiving and all receiving equals believing. It is a greater law than all the other laws of physics, because it transcends everyone of them.

I even began to wonder if others would read what she wrote and even...(gasp)... agree with her! At that point I finally realized I was being tempted, to not only pit the knowledge and understanding I've acquired in life against hers, but to do it in writing. And I didn't even know who she was!

Pausing, I asked myself: Do I really want to get into that kind of writing? Do I really want to start picking apart what others say - whether I think it's relevant or true or vital or not?

Without hesitation, I replied: No, I don't. Absolutely not! There's a place for commentary and opinion writing, but that's not where I want to go - not at all.

Logically, the next question is: Then where do you want to go, Kathy? The answer is simple. I have one purpose - one mission:  

I write with the belief to both inspire and challenge the human experience, welcoming criticism, for there is no person on earth who fails to intrigue me, and thereby touches my soul in some significant way.

It is not my intention to cast opinions that tend to judge the relevance or validity of what someone else may have thought or concluded. My desire and goal in writing would be defeated if I wrote in a framework that might tear down the very place another has reached by scaling their own mountain(s). Honestly, how welcoming would that be?

Totally unaware, Janice Van Dyck has touched my soul in a significant way. She has pushed me to reconsider my purpose and to decide whether or not my mission is still real to me - still where I choose to be. And - of all the things I've learned in life - she has inspired me to write of judgments and comparisons that we, at times unknowingly, superimpose on one another.

Although we've never met, please allow me to say, "Thank you, Janice."

 ~~~~~~~~

Okay, you caught me. Yes, I actually brought out an older post to be re-chewed...much like the cud. So, I admit it...perhaps I am part ruminant after all.     ;~)

  

Potential is Not a Valid Argument

With all the talk this year, about abortion, pro-life, planned parenthood and the such like, I cannot resist throwing in my plug nickel's worth. At least I rest assured that many will feel that's what my thinking may be worth. We'll see...

I've always advised young single girls to never marry potential. To lessen the degree of disillusionment, never confuse a man's potential with factual reality. It's simply not wise.

Rather, a savvy young lady should look into a man's track record for what's valid before considering a marital commitment, no matter how great the probabilities are of his possibilities. A guy could have great savoir faire [adaptable; knowing what to do in any situation] and the appearance of becoming the most successful and loving husband...ever..., yet never apply himself.

Potential is simply not valid criteria to base a marriage on.


Likewise true of pregnancy.

I honestly believe what is written in the Bible [the original Word of God given to man]. It is important to note that the first human being, Adam, became a living soul when God breathed the breath of life into him...and not a second before.  

Let's just consider that this has never changed.

A fetus would not become a living soul, until it takes its first breath...and not a second before. Potential -- even the greatest probability of a reality -- would not make it a live human being. That's right. It would have to take it's first breath of air to actually be that wonderful new baby girl or boy.

Why, you might ask, do I refer to the fetus as it?  Because a fetus is only the potential of being born a baby boy or girl, even though it may already look like one. Besides, even Jesus Christ -- God's only conceived son -- was referred to as an it and thing prior to being born, in spite of the fact that Mary had already been told it would be a boy. Seriously.

So, is it a crime to prevent, stop or kill potential?  

Perhaps it should be when considering a young man whose potential has died within him, stopping him from ever becoming what he possibly could have been. But, the last I checked, that is not yet a crime. 

Besides, who would we pin it on if it was? Seriously.

With the same logic, how could we consider, even for a moment, that stopping the potential of a fetus from the possibility of becoming a living soul -- a live and breathing baby girl or boy -- is, of all things...murder??! 

Doesn't an individual have to first be alive [meaning, breath-life] in order to be murdered? And doesn't a person have to be alive to have certain unalienable rights? I'm being somewhat rhetorical, of course.

Is abortion playing God? If a pregnancy is terminated because a fetus aborted from natural causes, does that make God a murderer? Our loving heavenly Father, God, in whom there is no darkness...a murderer??! You have got to be kidding!

Don't misunderstand me. I think potential is tremendous, especially when it is realized...especially when you get to see the baby! But, potential is not a valid argument.

Remember: Killing potential is not a crime. 

Not yet, anyway.